Composition, complex and method for enhancing catalysts utilization

Abstract

The present invention relates to a composition for enhancing the utilization of catalysts in fuel cell, comprising catalysts, proton-exchanged ionic polymers, and coupling agents. The coupling agents are bonded to the catalysts or catalyst carriers by a B1 functional group and bonded to the proton-exchanged ionic polymers by a B2 functional group. The present invention also relates to a method for enhancing the utilization of catalysts in fuel cell, comprising the steps of (a) utrasonicating catalysts; (b) adding coupling agents to bond to the catalysts; (c) adding a perfluoro polymer to form a catalyst-coupling agent-perfluoro polymer complex whereby developing stable dispersion; wherein the coupling agents in step (b) are bonded to the catalysts by a B1 functional group and bonded to a perfluoro polymer by a B2 functional group. The present invention also provides a complex for enhancing the utilization of catalysts in fuel cell, comprising catalysts, coupling agents, and proton-exchanged ionic polymers, wherein the coupling agents are bonded to the catalysts by a B1 functional group and bonded to the perfluoro polymer by a B2 functional group to form a complex.

1 . A complex for enhancing the utilization of catalysts in fuel cells, comprising: catalysts, coupling agents, and proton-exchanged ionic polymers, wherein said coupling agents are bonded to said catalysts by a B1 functional group and bonded to said proton-exchanged ionic polymers by a B2 functional group in order to form a complex.  
   
   
       2 . The complex for enhancing the utilization of catalysts in fuel cells of  claim 1 , wherein said B1 functional group includes the silyl group, the silane group, the carbonate group, the phosphate group, or the borate group.  
   
   
       3 . The complex for enhancing the utilization of catalysts in fuel cells of  claim 1 , wherein said B2 functional group includes the epoxy group or the amino group.  
   
   
       4 . The complex for enhancing the utilization of catalysts in fuel cells of  claim 1 , wherein said coupling agents are 3-glycidoxypropyl trimethoxysilane (GPTMS) or 3-aminopropyl trimethoxysilane (APTMS).  
   
   
       5 . The complex for enhancing the utilization of catalysts in fuel cells of  claim 1 , wherein said catalysts are transition metals or compounds thereof.  
   
   
       6 . The complex for enhancing the utilization of catalysts in fuel cells of  claim 5 , wherein said catalysts are PtRu or Pt.  
   
   
       7 . The complex for enhancing the utilization of catalysts in fuel cells of  claim 1 , wherein said catalyst can further be bonded to a catalyst carrier, and said carrier is bonded to said proton-exchanged ionic polymers.  
   
   
       8 . The complex for enhancing the utilization of catalysts in fuel cells of  claim 7 , wherein said catalyst carrier includes carbon, titanium, gold, silver, or copper.  
   
   
       9 . The complex for enhancing the utilization of catalysts in fuel cells of  claim 1 , wherein said proton-exchanged ionic polymer is a perfluoro polymer.  
   
   
       10 . The complex for enhancing the utilization of catalysts in fuel cells of  claim 9 , wherein said perfluoro polymer is PSFI or Nafion®.  
   
   
       11 . The complex for enhancing the utilization of catalysts in fuel cells of  claim 1 , wherein a method for bonding is a covalent bonding or a non-covalent bonding.  
   
   
       12 . A composition for enhancing the utilization of catalysts in fuel cells, comprising: 
 catalysts;    proton-exchanged ionic polymers; and    coupling agents;    wherein the weight ratio of said catalysts to said proton-exchanged ionic polymers is 0.1-100, and the weight ratio of said catalysts to said coupling agents is 10-1000; wherein said coupling agents are bonded to said catalysts by a B1 functional group and bonded to said proton-exchanged ionic polymers by a B2 functional group to form a complex.    
   
   
       13 . The composition for enhancing the utilization of catalysts in fuel cells of  claim 12 , wherein said B1 functional group includes the silyl group, the silane group, the carbonate group, the phosphate group, or the borate group.  
   
   
       14 . The composition for enhancing the utilization of catalysts in fuel cells of  claim 12 , wherein said B2 functional group includes the epoxy group or the amino group.  
   
   
       15 . The composition for enhancing the utilization of catalysts in fuel cells of  claim 12 , wherein said coupling agents are 3-glycidoxypropyl trimethoxysilane (GPTMS) or 3-aminopropyl trimethoxysilane (APTMS).  
   
   
       16 . The composition for enhancing the utilization of catalysts in fuel cells of  claim 12 , wherein said catalysts are transition metals or compounds thereof.  
   
   
       17 . The composition for enhancing the utilization of catalysts in fuel cells of  claim 16 , wherein said catalysts are PtRu or Pt.  
   
   
       18 . The composition for enhancing the utilization of catalysts in fuel cells of  claim 12 , wherein said catalysts can further be bonded to a catalyst carrier, and said catalyst carrier is bonded to said proton-exchanged ionic polymers.  
   
   
       19 . The composition for enhancing the utilization of catalysts in fuel cells of  claim 18 , wherein said catalyst carrier includes carbon, titanium, gold, silver, or copper.  
   
   
       20 . The composition for enhancing the utilization of catalysts in fuel cells of  claim 12 , wherein said proton-exchanged ionic polymer is a perfluoro polymer.  
   
   
       21 . The composition for enhancing the utilization of catalysts in fuel cells of  claim 20 , wherein said perfluoro polymer is PSFI or Nafion®.  
   
   
       22 . The composition for enhancing the utilization of catalysts in fuel cells of  claim 12 , wherein a method for bonding is a covalent bonding or a non-covalent bonding.  
   
   
       23 . The composition for enhancing the utilization of catalysts in fuel cells of  claim 12 , wherein the weight ratio of said catalysts to said coupling agents is 10-200.  
   
   
       24 . The composition for enhancing the utilization of catalysts in fuel cells of  claim 12 , wherein the weight ratio of said catalysts to said proton-exchanged ionic polymers is 1-20.  
   
   
       25 . The composition for enhancing the utilization of catalysts in fuel cells of  claim 12 , wherein said composition further comprises a solvent.  
   
   
       26 . The composition for enhancing the utilization of catalysts in fuel cells of  claim 25 , wherein said solvent is n-butyl acetate (nBA), ethyleneglycol (EG), or glycerol.  
   
   
       27 . A method for enhancing the utilization of catalysts in fuel cells, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) utrasonicating catalysts in solvent;    (b) adding coupling agents to bond to said catalysts; and    (c) adding a perfluoro polymer to bond to said coupling agent and form a catalyst-coupling agent-perfluoro polymer complex whereby developing a stable dispersion;    wherein said coupling agents of step (b) are bonded to said catalyst by a B1 functional group and bonded to said perfluoro polymer by a B2 functional group.    
   
   
       28 . The method for enhancing the utilization of catalysts in fuel cells of  claim 27 , further comprise adding an oxidizing agent to oxidize a surface of said catalysts before step (b).  
   
   
       29 . The method for enhancing the utilization of catalysts in fuel cells of  claim 27 , wherein said B1 functional group includes the silyl group, the silane group, the carbonate group, the phosphate group, or the borate group.  
   
   
       30 . The method for enhancing the utilization of catalysts in fuel cells of  claim 27 , wherein said B2 functional group includes the epoxy group or the amino group.  
   
   
       31 . The method for enhancing the utilization of catalysts in fuel cells of  claim 27 , wherein said coupling agents of step (b) are 3-glycidoxypropyl trimethoxysilane (GPTMS) or 3-aminopropyl trimethoxysilane (APTMS).  
   
   
       32 . The method for enhancing the utilization of catalysts in fuel cells of  claim 27 , wherein said catalysts of step (a) are transition metals or compounds thereof.  
   
   
       33 . The method for enhancing the utilization of catalysts in fuel cells of  claim 32 , wherein said catalysts of step (a) are PtRu or Pt.  
   
   
       34 . The method for enhancing the utilization of catalysts in fuel cells of  claim 27 , wherein said catalysts of step (a) can further be bonded to a catalyst carrier, and said catalyst is bonded to a proton-exchanged ionic polymer.  
   
   
       35 . The method for enhancing the utilization of catalysts in fuel cells of  claim 34 , wherein said catalyst carrier of step (a) includes carbon, titanium, gold, silver, or copper.  
   
   
       36 . The method for enhancing the utilization of catalysts in fuel cells of  claim 27 , wherein said perfluoro polymer of step (c) is PSFI or Nafion®.  
   
   
       37 . The method for enhancing the utilization of catalysts in fuel cells of  claim 27 , wherein a method for bonding is a covalent bonding or a non-covalent bonding.  
   
   
       38 . The method for enhancing the utilization of catalysts in fuel cells of  claim 27 , wherein the weight ratio of said catalysts to said coupling agents is 10-1000.  
   
   
       39 . The method for enhancing the utilization of catalysts in fuel cells of  claim 27 , wherein the weight ratio of said catalysts to said proton-exchanged ionic polymers is 0.1-100.